Ash tray

ABSTRACT

An ash tray including a supply of liquid such as water that has a ball member floating thereon whereby a cigarette, cigar or the like can be engaged by the moistened ball member to safely and conveniently extinguish the cigarette or cigar.

United States Patent Andrews [45] Jan. 18, 1972 [54] ASH TRAY 2,620,80512/1952 Page et a1. ..13 1/256 [72] Inventor: Malcolm C. Andrews, 652Campbell St., 5 goster i g 1 wimamspon, 17701 orrance [22] Filed: Feb.12, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS [2i] App1.N0.: 10,750 861,30710/1940 France ..l3 1/236 276,758 9/1927 Great Britain. ...l3l/236 52us. c1 ..131/23n,131 241 564'678 10/1944 "131/236 [51] Int. Cl. ..A24f19/14 581 Field of Search ..13 1/236, 241, 256 Rech AtlorneySherman Levy[56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT UNITED STATES PATENTS An ash traylncluding a supply of liquid such as water that has D1 13,759 3/1939Murray ..l31/241 UK a b ll member floating thereon whereby a cigarette,cigar or 1 1 1292 12/1 Silver 1/241 UX the like can be engaged by themoistened ball member to safe- 1;464,993 3/19:23 P ly and convenientlyextinguish the cigarette or cigar. 2,167,261 7/1939 Sadtler. ...l31/256UX 2,391,190 12/1945 Porter ..l31/236 UX 2 Claims, 5 Drawing FiguresPATENIEU JAN 1 we 3o INVENTOR MALCOLM C. ANDREWS Bwoz/ ATTORNEY ASIITRAY The present invention relates to an ashtray, and more particularlyto an ashtray that includes a compartment that has a supply of liquidsuch as water therein, and wherein there is provided a ball-shapedmember that floats on the liquid, the ball member being adapted tosafely and conveniently extinguish a cigarette or cigar.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ashtray thatutilizes a liquid such as water to extinguish a lit article such as acigarette or cigar, and wherein there is provided a means forconveniently mounting or supporting an ashtray in any desired locationsuch as in an automobile or other vehicle or any other structure.

Another object is to provide an ashtray that includes a liquidcompartment and a ball therein, and wherein there is provided acompartment for receiving the extinguished cigarette or cigar buttsafter the same have been extinguished.

A further object is to provide an ashtray of the type stated that iseconomical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is ruggedin structure and foolproof in use.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements andimprovements thereof of a device that is economical to produce, durablein form and conducive to the most economic use of materials andunifonnity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in thesubsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the ashtray of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting base per se.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view on a reduced scaleillustrating the ashtray supported on a vertical surface.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the ashtrayof the present invention, and the ashtray 10 includes a hollow housingthat embodies spaced parallel vertically disposed sidewalls 11, spacedparallel vertically disposed end walls 12 and 13 and horizontallydisposed top and bottom walls 14 and 15.

Arranged within the housing 20 is a vertically disposed partition 16that defines within the housing first and second compartments l7 and 18.The compartment 17 is adapted to hold a quantity of liquid 19 thereinand the liquid 19 may be water.

The numeral 21 indicates a closure or lie that is hingedly connected asat 22 to the top wall 14, FIG. 3, and the closure 21 closes an opening23 in the top of the housing 20. A manually engageable knob or handle 24is provided for facilitating the opening of the closure 21.

There is further provided an upstanding projection 25 above thecompartment 17, and the projection 25 indicates a tapered portion 26that has a flaring section 29 arranged thereabove, there being a reduceddiameter neck 28 between the portions 26 and 29. The numeral 27indicates a hollow ball that is adapted to float on the liquid 19 in thecompartment 17.

Mounted on the lower portion of the housing 20 or formed integraltherewith are spaced parallel L-shaped flanges or lugs 30. The numeral31 indicates a baseplate that is adapted to engage the flanges 30, and asuction cup 32 is secured to the baseplate 31 and depends therefrom.Diametrically opposed lugs 33 may be provided on the baseplate 31 tolimit the extent of insertion thereof in the flanges 30.

The end wall 12 is adapted to have a pair of spaced parallel flanges orguide members 34 secured adjacent thereto so that when desired thebaseplate 31 can be arranged in engagement with the flanges 34 in orderto permit the ashtray to be mounted on a vertical surface as the surface35, as shown in FIG. 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided anashtray that utilizes a supply of liquid in conjunction with a ballmember to safely and conveniently extinguish cigarettes, cigars and thelike. In use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, theashtray 20 can be mounted in a suitable location such as the dash of anautomobile or other vehicle such by arranging the suction cup 32 toengage the horizontal supporting surface. It is to be understood thatthe ashtray of the present invention can be used in any desiredlocation, and its use is not restricted to use in a vehicle. With thesuction cup 32 engaging the supporting surface the mounting place orsurface engages the flanges 30 so that the housing 20 can beconveniently supported in a desired location. The compartment 17 isadapted to be filled or supplied with a suitable liquid such as water orother suitable liquid 19. Thus, when a cigarette or cigar is to beextinguished the user need only insert it down through the flaringportion 29 of the tapered portion 26 to cause the cigarette to engagethe ball 27 whereby the water will safely extinguish the cigarette.After the cigarette or cigar has been extinguished, the knob 24 can bemanually gripped so that the closure 21 can be swung open from the solidline position of FIG. 3 to the broken line position of FIG. 3 so thatthe butts can be conveniently dropped in the compartment 18. The closure21 can be returned to its closed position relative to the opening 23.

The ball member 27 is of a hollow construction so that if floats on theupper surface of the liquid 19 whereby the ball member 27 will coactwith the reduced diameter neck 28 of the projection 25 that prevents theliquid 19 from sloshing out through the projection 25 as for examplewhen a vehicle is moving or the like. In addition, the ball member 27 isfree to rotate or move in the compartment 17 so that its outer peripheryor surface will be wetted by the water or other liquid 19 to bring aboutthe desired extinguishing action as previously stated.

The mounting plate 31 has the ears or lugs 33 thereon which will helplimit movement of the parts: 20 and 31 relative to each other so thatthey will not accidentally separate in the wrong direction. When it isdesired to empty the container 18 the entire housing 20 can be separatedfrom the mounting plate 31 if desired so that the closure 21 can beopened and the device can be turned upside down to discharge theextinguished cigarette butts from the compartment 18. Thus, the devicecan be used over and over again. Thus, when desired additionalquantities of liquid 19 can be placed in the compartment 17 by fillingthe compartment 17 through the projec tion 25.

As shown in FIG. 5, the device can also be mounted contiguous to avertical surface 35 due to the provision of the flanges 34 on the endwall 12 of the ashtray. In FIG. 5 the suction cup 32 convenientlyengages a vertical wall surface 35, and the mounting plate 31 engagesthe flanges 34 whereby the device can be conveniently supported in thismanner.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesand sizes.

It will, therefore, be seen that there has been provided aliquid-extinguishing ashtray that uses water or any other suitableliquid. The device can be conveniently used in automobiles, airplanes,boats and the like.

Other mounting means can be used besides those shown or described. Forexample, clips or holders can be used or an ad hesive type ofarrangement can be used or a hook arrangement can be used. The ballmember 27 can be made of a suitable material that will float but willnot burn. In addition, since the ball can turn freely the outer surfiaceof the ball will be moistened to assert the desired extinguishingaction.

The ball 27 may have any desired or suitable construction, for example,the ball 27 may have a smooth or plain surface or it may be roughened.In addition, the ball may be impregnated or otherwise provided with aluminescent or fluorescent material so that it will glow in the dark.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been illustrated and described, it is understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andthe scope of the appended claims.

portion terminating in a reduced diameter neck, there being a flaringsection positioned above said neck, a ball floating on the liquid in thefirst compartment, spaced-apart flanges affixed to said housing, abaseplate for selectively slidably engaging said flanges. and a suctiondevice secured to said baseplate.

2. The structure as defined in claim I, wherein said ball has a plainsurface.

i i t i

1. An ashtray comprising a hollow housing including vertically disposedspaced parallel sidewalls, vertically disposed spaced end walls,horizontally disposed top and bottom walls, a vertically disposedpartition arranged in said housing defining first and secondcompartments, said first compartment having a quantity of liquidtherein, a closure hingedly mounted upon said first compartment, aprojection above said first compartment, and said projection including atapered portion terminating in a reduced diameter neck, there being aflaring section positioned above said neck, a ball floating on theliquid in the first compartment, spaced-apart flanges affixed to saidhousing, a baseplate for selectively slidably engaging said flanges, anda suction device secured to said baseplate.
 2. The structure as definedin claim 1, wherein said ball has a plain surface.